Wild Boy (song)

"Wild Boy" is a song by American rapper Machine Gun Kelly featuring fellow American rapper Waka Flocka Flame. The song, released September 27, 2011, serves as the lead single from Kelly's debut EP Half Naked & Almost Famous (2012). Produced by GB Hitz and Southside, the song was initially included on Kelly's third mixtape Rage Pack,^[1] and later included on his major-label debut studio album Lace Up.

"Wild Boy"
Single by Machine Gun Kelly featuring Waka Flocka Flame
from the EP Half Naked & Almost Famous and the album Lace Up
Released	September 27, 2011 (2011-09-27)
Recorded	2011
Genre	Hip hop hardcore hip hop trap
Length	3:53
Label	Bad Boy Interscope
Songwriter(s)	Colson Baker Juaquin Malphurs Joshua Luellen
Producer(s)	GB Hitz Southside
MGK singles chronology
"Wild Boy" (2011) "Invincible" (2011)
Waka Flocka Flame singles chronology
"She Be Puttin' On" (2011) "Wild Boy" (2011) "Round of Applause" (2011)
Music video
"Wild Boy" on YouTube

Critical reception

Allmusic gave a mixed opinion on the song, criticizing its "Jackass-inspired dumbness", but commending Kelly's "underdog rhymes, hard-time tales, and heaps of Cleveland love".^[2] HipHopDX commented the track saying "MGK is joined by Waka Flocka Flame for a rowdy offering that is entertaining on the surface but lacks creative value".^[3] XXL defined the content of the song as "aggressive".^[4] Rolling Stone defined the track as "crazy-ass and Bone Thugs-n-Harmony-tinged".^[5]

Music video

The music video, directed by Spliff TV and Maybach Music Films, was released to MGK's Vevo on November 16, 2011.^[6] The video features cameo appearances from jeweler Johnny Dang, comedian Katt Williams, and rapper Layzie Bone.^[7]

The video for the remix was released April 26, 2012.^[8]

Remixes

The official remix was released on March 14, 2012, which featured 2 Chainz, Meek Mill, Mystikal, French Montana, Yo Gotti and – the person who which the song is referenced – Steve-O providing an intro. The remix was officially released, removing Steve-O's intro and outro from the single, to digital retailers, like iTunes and Amazon on May 22, 2012, and again with Steve-O's intro and outro to digital retailers on May 29, 2012.^[9]

A remix from producer Ricky Luna was included on the soundtrack to the film Project X.

Credits and personnel

Credits adapted from the liner notes of Lace Up.^[10]

Recording

• MGK recording: Rage Cage Studios (Cleveland, OH)
• Waka Flocka Flame recording: Daddy's House Recording Studios (New York, NY)

Personnel

• GB Hitz – producer
• Southside – producer
• Justin Sampson – producer, assistant
• Steve "Rock Star" Dickey – mixer

Chart performance

The song debuted on the Billboard Hot 100 on the week of January 28, 2012 at number 98.^[11]

Weekly charts

Chart (2011–12)	Peak position
US Billboard Hot 100[12]	98
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[13]	49

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA)[14]	3× Platinum	3,000,000‡
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release and radio history

Country	Date	Format	Label	Ref
United States	September 27, 2011	Digital download	Bad Boy Interscope	[15]
	February 6, 2012	Radio airplay		[16]